Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Use A Backpack – Part I
Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Use A Backpack Part I
Yes, the Waylon Jennings song is a about preventing your child from becoming a cowboy. That's fine, but the title sounds real nice when you sing it and with any luck I've got your attention. If that's the case, GREAT because what I'm about to share could save your child's spine.
Let's start with some spine basics. The spine has a normal shape straight when viewed from the front and curved when viewed from the side. During adolescence your child's spine is still growing and does so according to the stress and loads placed upon it. This is law and does not change based on belief. Specifically, the law is referred to as Heuter-Volkmann's law; this law dictates immature bone growth in response to biomechanical loads. The law states, bone under compression (more load) will experience decreased growth and bone under tension (less load) will grow at an increased rate.
Scientifically, here's evidence why this law and your child's backpack use is significant: 1) Findings indicate that forward flexion (which reflects the need to keep the centre of gravity within the support area) is combined with an elongation of the loaded spine (shown by a reduction of lumbar lordosis and kyphosis); 2) A hypokyphotic thoracic spine becomes less stable under gravity due to the loss of sagittal curvature. This creates a vicious cycle for the skeletally immature individual; and, 3) Back pain in youngsters is correlated with back pain in adulthood.
Stayed tuned for Part II at which time I'll discuss the influence of posture on bone growth and how a simple backpack can change the spine.
References:
Harrison DE, Cailliet R, Harrison DD, Janik T. How do anterior/posterior translations of the thoracic cage affect the sagittal lumbar spine, pelvic tilt, and thoracic kyphosis? Eur Spine Journal. 2002 Jun;11(3):287-93.
Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kyvik KO, Manniche C. The course of low back pain from adolescence to adulthood: eight-year follow-up of 9600 twins. Spine. 2006;31:468472.
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